Bacon slicer



W. MAHLER BACON SLIGER Filed Dec. 11, 1959 May 4, 1943.

8 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllll INVENTOR WIZZM/WZ Ma/dq;

' ORNEY.

May 4, 1943. r w. MAHLER BACON SLICER Filed Dec. 11', 19:59

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wdaam-fijafzier' y a. ZXTTORNEY.

W. MAHLER May 4, 1943.

BACON SLICER 'Filed Dec. 11, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR.

May 4, 1943.

w. MAHLEVR BACON SLICER Filed Dec. 11, 1959' 8 Sheets-Sh eet 4 'TTORNEY.

May 4, 1943. w. MAHLER 2,313,003

BACON SLIGER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N VENTOR.

, Phalanx-Haida; l A ORNEY.

y '1943- w. MAHLER ,3 8,003

BACON SLICER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ORNEY.

W. MAHLER May 4, 1943.

BACON SLICER Filed Dec. 11, 19:59

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. WLiZzczmMa/zlez I v 'ORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1943 BACON SLICER William Mahler, La Porte, Ind.,assignor to U. S.

Slicing Machine Co corporation of Indian pany, La Porte, Ind., a a

Application December 11, 1939, Serial No. 308,510

12 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines in general and moreparticularly to the heavy duty type of slicing machine adaptedparticularly for slicing bacon and dried beef and the like. The type ofslicing machine to which the invention relates generally is of the typeshown in United States Letters Patents Nos. 1,976,823, 1,976,824,2,150,585, and 2,168,612, each assigned to the present assignee.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a slicingmachine which is adapted for both high and low speed operation, therebeing means for eiiecting selective fast and slow feed of the substanceto be sliced.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of meansincluding a slice receiving conveyor trough Which is capable of beingoperated intermittently at various speeds according to the speed of thesubstance feeding means and in timed relationship therewith.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a slicing machinewhich is provided with means for eflecting a high and low speed feedingmovement of the substance to be sliced in combination with a slicereceiver, or the means may be used for operating a conveyor, whereby themovement of a movable slice receiver is operatively correlated with thefeed of the slicing machine and properly synchronized therewith so thatregardless of the speed at the movable slice receiver will be moved therequired distance proportionately.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new andnovel slice receiver adapted to receive slices as they are cutconsecutively from the substance and arranged in stacked relationshipone upon another on a support or abutment movably arranged in the slicereceiver, the slice supporting abutment moving in proper timedrelationship with the feed movement of the substance to be sliced sothat the last slice cut is in juxtaposition with respect to the nextsucceeding slice; the abutment being lowered successively during eachcutting operation an amount equivalent to the thickness of the slicebeing cut.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of new and novelmeans for efiecting a feeding operation at various speeds whereby theslicing machine is adaptable for slicing different substances atdifi'erent thicknesses and at diiTerent speeds, whereby the machine isadapted for use in slicing relatively thick slices such as bacon, andvery thin slices such as dried beef.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improvedmeans for efiecting the which the material is fed, 1

-slice receiving trough operation of slice supporting means whereby theslice supporting element of the said slice supporting means is moved adistance equal to the thickness of a slice being cut during each cuttingoperation of the machine.

A further object of the invention consists of new and improved means foreffecting multiple speeds of the'ieed and multiple speedsof the slicereceiving means, both of said means being correlated to operatesynchronously.

Still another object of the invention is the particular arrangement,construction and location of the parts for effecting the variousoperations of the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the follow in specification.

'The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevational view of a slicing machine and embodyingthe invention, the view being taken on the side opposite the operatorsstance.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view of the front right hand end of themachine and showing some of the driving means and the means forregulating the thickness of slices.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view partly in section and looking in thedirection of the arrows 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan section of the change speed means arranged inthe lower part of the housing, at the lower end of the view shown inFigs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view partly in elevation and showing theshifting means for effecting change speed operation of the feed screw.

Fig, 6 is a detail plan section showing some of the change speedmechanism for operating the slice receiving conveyor or trough.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevational view of the feed screw and driving meanstherefrom for selectively driving the slice receiving trough or conveyordriving sprockets. I

Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevationshowing the slice receiving trough or conveyor and some of itsassociated mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the more in detail.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the lower end of the slice receivingtrough.

Fig. 11 is a detailsectional view on the line Hl| f Fig. 8.

' opposite the housing 6. The motor is adapted to continuously drive theshaft by means of pulleys 9 and I0, and the belts N, Fig. 3. This meansfor effecting continuous rotative movement of the shaft '5, is shown inapplicant's Patent No. 2,150,585 granted March 14, 1938. This latterpatent also discloses the general type of slicing machine to which thepresent invention is applicable.

The substance to be sliced is adapted to be fed along a substancesupport |2, Fig. 3, by a feed clamp l3, Fig. 1, which is selectivelyconnectable and disconnectable with the feed screw 4 and intermittentlymoved thereby.

This feed clamp may be of theconstruction disclosed in Patent No.2,177,470 granted October 24, 1939.

Means for operating or intermittently rotating the feed screw 4 maycomprise eccentric mechanism of the kind disclosed in Patent No.2,168,612 granted August 8, 1938, to Ahrndt. The thickness of slices tobe cut is determined by operating the hand Wheel I4, Fig. 3, whichthrough certain mechanism shown and described in the said Patent No.2,168,612 and arranged in the housing 6, controls the degree of rotationof the feed screw 4. The means for rotating the feed screw 4 compriseseccentric mechanism l5, Fig. 3, for reciprocating an arm l6, as shown,in Figs. 4-7 of said last named'patent, to operate a pawl H. The pawl I1is engageable with a ratchet wheel I8, Fig. 3, on feed screw 4, wherebythe feed screw is given intermittent rotative movement. The ratchetpawl-and-wheel mechanism I8, is similar to that shown in Fig. of PatentNo. 1,976,823, or in Fig. 23 of Patent No. 1,976,824. The feed clamp |3may include a feed nut I9 which is adaptable to be operatively connectedor disconnected from the feed screw 4 and is movable on a feed nut slidebar 20.

The shaft 5 is adapted to rotate a slicing knife 2|, Figs. 8 and 9,which is arranged in the knife housing 8, Figs. 1 and 8. The knife 2| isadapted to be rotated as well as given planetary movement about a fixedorbit. The construction and mechanism for rotating the knife may bemechanism of the type disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,976,823 and 1,976,824,although it has been found preferable that the knife operating means beof the type shown in Patent No. 2,150,585, particularly Fig. 4 thereof.The knife 2| may also be provided with a slice deflector 22, Figs. 8 and9, of any known type but it has been found preferable to use the typeshown and disclosed in Fig. 12 of Patent No. 1,976,823. The mechanismfor effecting rotary as well as planetary movement of the knife 2| isarranged in the knife housing 8.

In conventional slicing machines, the feeding mechanism has constantoperation, the feed screw being rotated at a predetermined speedintermittently to effect translation of the substance along the feedtable to the cutting knife. In instances where different substances suchas bacon and dried beef are to be cut, machines had a gear train whichhad to be taken off and replaced by another train of gears each time theslice thickness was to be changed.

The present invevntion, however, contemplates a machine wherein changespeeds are employed to effect the feeding of the substance at a sloweror faster rate a required for different substances. In the presentembodiment, a single machine is adapted for feeding and slicingdifferent kinds of substance at different speeds. Bacon is generallysliced considerably thicker than dried beef, therefore the feed of thebacon should be much more rapid than the dried beef. The presentinvention provides means whereby the speed of the feeding mechanism canbe considerably advanced for slicing one particular substance, such asbacon, and then considerably reduced or lowered for slicing anothersubstance, such as dried beef. The means for effecting the change speedoperation of the feed screw 4 may comprise shifting gear mechanism,Figs. 2 to 5.

The feed screw 4, Fig. 4, has one end thereof mounted in suitablebearings 23 in the knife housing 8, Fig. l, and its other end mounted insuitable bearings 24 in the housing 6, Fig. 4. The ratchet wheel |8,Fig, 4 is mounted on the feed screw shaft 4 and driven by the ratchetpawl I! through the eccentric rod l6, Fig. 3.

A sleeve 25, Fig. 4, is rigidly secured to the ratchet wheel I 8 bywelding or otherwise, so that the sleeve will rotate with the ratchetwheel. The sleeve 25 is provided with external teeth 26, while theratchet wheel I8 is provided with ratchet teeth 27 which are engaged byratchet pawl II. The pawl i7 is fastened to a pawl bracket 28, Fig. 3,by means of a pin 29 so that it may be operated by the rod l6 throughthe flywheel eccentric mechanism |5 during rotation of the flywheel orpulley ID.

The ratchet wheel l8 and the sleeve 25, are suitably bushed and operatein bearings 38, Fig. 4, about the reduced diameter 3| of the feed screw4. The larger diameter 32 of the feed screw carries a key 33 and a gear34. A washer 35 provided with a key-way slot 36 is fastened to one sideof the gear 34 by screws 37. A ring 38 is fastenedto the other side ofthe gear 34 by means of rivets or screws 36. The ring 33 is providedwith internal teeth 49, Fig. 4, which mesh with the external teeth 25 onthe ratchet wheel sleeve. 25. A gear 4| is mounted on a countershaft 42which is securely fastened toa part of the housing 5. This gear 4| isprovided with gear teeth 43 which are adapted to mesh with the teeth 25on the ratchet wheel gear sleeve 25. A second gear ring 44 on the gear4| is adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with the teeth 45 onth gear 34. The gear 34 and .its washer 35 and the ring 88 are adaptedto be shifted to the left, Fig. 4, on the enlarged portion 32 of thefeed screw 4 which carries the key 33. A shifting collar i6 is arrangedbetween the gear ring 34 and the washer 35. This collar 45 is adapted tobe shifted by means of a shifting fork 47, Fig. 5, which'is. mounted ona shifting shaft 48. Pivot pins 49 connect the shifting collar 46 andthe shifting fork 47.. Bearings 58 and 5| are provided to suitably mountthe shifting fork shaft 48. A gear shift crank 52 is pinned at 53 to theshifting shaft-48, and a'lock pin 54 provided with a knob 55 is adaptedto lock the gear shift crank 52. Aspring 56 is arranged about the pin 54to urge the pin 54 in a direction toward the housing 6, Fig. 4, sothatwhen the gear shift crank 52 is moved from one shifting position 51 toanother shifting position 58, Fig. 2, the pin 54 will be pressed .intoits proper position. The positions 51 and 58 are apertures into whichthe pin 54 extends to hold the gear shift crank 52 in proper position.The gear shift crank 52 is shifted to positions 58 and 51 for fast andslow speed, respectively. 1

The teeth 26 of the ratchet wheel sleeve 25,- Fig. 4, are shown meshingwith the teeth'43 of the gear 4|, but in this position the entire gear4|' is in idling position. Therefore, the worm feed '4 will be driven bythe ratchet pawl l1 through th ratchet wheel l8 and sleeve 25, andinasmuch as the gear 34 rides on the key 83 on the feed screw 4, thefeed through the parts i8, 25, 26, 38, 34 and 38 at high speed. When thegear shift crank 52 is operated from position 58 to position 51, Fig. 2,the shifting fork 41 will cause shifting collar 46 to shift the gear 34to the left, Fig. 4, so as to cause the teeth 45 of the gear 34 to meshwith the teeth on gear 44, whereby the feed screw 4 will be driventhrough the members E8, 25, 43, 44 and 45 at reduced speed. The internaltooth spaces on the member 38 are such that they will clear the key 33when the gear 34 is shifted to the left, Fig. 4. The feed screw 4through this change speed gearing, therefore, is capable of beingrotated at a relatively lowspeed or at a relatively high speed,depending upon the type of substance to be cut and the speed at whichthe substance should be fed.

The slicing machine is provided with a feed trough to receive the slicescut by the knife 2|, and the invention contemplates the provision of aslice abutment or receiving element upon which the slices are stackedone upon the other as they are cut. The slice receiving element orabutment upon which the slices abut is adapted to rececle or lower adistance at least equal to the thickness of each slice being cut. Means,therefore, are provided for operating the slice support or abutment intimed relationship with the slices as they are being cut. This means isoperatively connected with the machine feeding mechanism, and inasmuchas the feeding mechanism i capable of operating at a fast or slow speed,the slice supporting abutment is operated at corresponding speeds and insynchronism with the various speeds of the machine. The air spacebetween cut slices varies, however, for slices of difierent thickness. Achange speed mechanism is, accordingly, provided between the feedingmechanism of the machine and the drive for the slice receiving abutmentto vary the movement of the abutment, thereby to provide foraccommodating the difference in air spacing between slices of differentthickness. The use of this change speed mechanism for controlling oroperating the abutment is also an important feature of the presentinvention.

This change speed mechanism for the conveyor or slice receiving abutmentcomprises a gear 59, Figs. 6 and 7, which is mounted on a transverseshaft 69. The transverse shaft 68 is mounted in side brackets 6|, therebeing suitable bearings 62 and 63 in the brackets 6| to revolublysupport the transverse shaft 69. The gear 59 is a spiral spur gear andhas meshing relationship with the feed screw 4, as clearly shown in Fig.7, whereby rotative movement of thefeed screw 4 will be transmitted tothe shaft 68 by means of the spiral spur gear 59. A sprocket 64 isrevolubly mounted on the shaft 68 and this sprocket 64 is arrangedbetween collars 65 and screw is driven directly 66 fixed to the shaft66, Fig. 6. A second sprocket 61 is also revolubly mounted onthe'shaftfiii being ararnged between a collar 68 on the shaft 60 and thebearing 63 of a bracket 6|. clutch sleeve 69 is slidably mounted on theshaft 69 and is rotated by the shaft 60 through the keys .19 on theshaft-69. The clutch sleeve 69 is provided with an annular groove H,Fig. 6, into whicha clutch shifting arm 12 extends. The clutch shiftingarm 12 is fixed to a transverse shifting shaft 13, Fig. 6, which isshiftably mounted. inthe brackets 6|. The clutch 69 is therefore adaptedto be shifted for driving relationship with eitherof the sprockets 64 or61. The clutch 69 is provided with driving holes 14 and 15 on oppositefaces thereof. These holes 14 and. 15 are adapts ed to receiveselectively the driving pins 16 and 11 on the sprockets 61- and 64respectively. Therefore, the clutch sleeve 69 is adapted to be movedinto driving engagement with either of the sprockets 64 or 61.

The shaft 13, Fig. 6, is provided with annular grooves or recesses 18into which a locking pin 19 is adapted to be received, Fig. 6. When-theshifting shaft position as shown in Fig. 6, the shifting arm 12 hasmoved the clutch sleeve 69 to the right, Fig. 6, and the pin 16 are inthe holes 14 causing the sprocket 61 to be rotated. When the shiftingshaft 13 is that the pin 19 will be received in the last right notch 18,Fig. 6, the shifting arm 12 will move the sleeve 69 to the left andcause driving engagement between the clutch sleeve 69 and the sprocket64. When the shifting shaft 13 is moved so that the center recess 18 isengaged by the pin 19, the clutch sleeve 69 will be in neutral positionand out of engagement with both sprockets 64 and 61 and therefore norotative movement will be given to these two sprockets.

The sprockets 64 and 61 are adapted to drive the sprockets 80 and 8|respectively. The sprockets 88 and 8|, Fig. 11, are mounted on atransverse shaft 82 and are driven through separate sprocket chains 83.The sprockets 64' and 6'! are of different diameters, and therefore theshaft 82 carrying the sprockets 88 and 8| is adapted to be driven ateither relatively low speed or at a relatively high speed, dependinguponwhether the sprocket 64 or 61'is doing the driving.

The sprocket shaft 82, Fig. 11, is supported in suitable bearings 84 and85 in the bracket member 86 to revolubly support the shaft 82.

A sprocket wheel 81. is fixedto one end of the shaft 82 and is adaptedto drive the slice abut.- ment drive chain 88. The drive chain 88 drivesa sprocket 89, Fig. 8, mounted at the lower end of the slice receivingtrough 99. The sprocket 89 is mounted on a shaft 9|, Figs. 8 and 9, inthe bearings 92, Figs. 8 and 9. The bearings 92 are fastened at 93, Fig.8, to a bracket 94 which is wide enough to support the slice receivingtrough 90. The bracket 94 carries two lugs 95 and a bearing plate 96,Fig. 10. The top surface of the bracket 94 is cut out as indicated at 91to clear certain of the working parts. The top of the slice receivingtrough 98 is adapted to rest on a supporting bracket 98, Fig. 11, havingtwo lugs 99, Figs. 9, 11, for pivotally mounting the trough on the shaft82. The lugs 95, Figs. 8 and 10, carry a pivoting pin I99, Fig. 10, towhich pin a lug |9| ispivotally connected. The lug HM, Figs. 8 and 9,threadedly receives an adjusting rod I82 upon which adjusting-nuts 163Figs'.'-8 and 9, are mounted. The adjusting nuts: I03

13 is at the extreme right hand moved to the left, Fig. 6, so

are arranged on opposite sides of a part-J04 of the machine base. Theadjusting nuts I03 may threadedly engage the rod I02, or the rod I02 maybe left smooth and the. nuts I03 locked in. adjusted position by meansof the set screws I05, Figs. 8 and 9. By adjusting the nuts I03 andconsequently the rod I02, the angularity of the slice receiving troughcan be changed to suit best stacking conditions: '1

' An abutment plate I06, Fig. 11,.is arranged in the receiving trough90, and slices S as they are cut by the knife are adapted to.be stackedon the abutment I06. This abutment plate I06 is fastened by screws I01,Fig. 11, to a slide bearing I08 which rides on a slide rod I00. Thisslide rod I09 is fastened in bearings IIO of the member 06 of bracket94, Fig. 10, and bearings I I I of the member 98, Fig. 11.

The slide bearing I08 is provided with a plunger rod II2, Fig. 11, whichterminates at its bottom in a projection I I3 which is" adapted to fitin the space between rollers or links of the roller chain 88. The rod H2is provided with a knob or handle H4 at its upper end, and it is adaptedto .be raised or lowered to bring the kerfs I [5 into position to belocked by a sp'ringpressed plunger II6. This plunger IIB locks the rod II2 in'either engaged or disengaged position with'the chain 88. When thespring pressed plunger H6 is pressed downwardly onto the links of theupper reach of the chain 88, the projection I I3 on'the rod II2 willrest in the space between the rollers of the chain. Downward pressure onthe rod H2 is taken up by reaction plates III, Fig. 11, on the slidebracket I08so as to prevent deflection of the chain. When the chain 88is operated by the feed screw 4, gear 59, chain 83, and sprockets 80 or8I, the slide bearing I08 and the abutment I06 will slide downwardly inthe slice receiving trough 90 as the slices S are de' posited againstthe abutment I06. When the slice abutment I06 arrives at the bottom ofthe trough, the projection II3 will ride over the sprocket 81 and one ofthe sprocket teeth entering the chain link which engages the projectionII3, will force the projection II3 out whereby the lower kerf II5 on theplunger rod II2 will be in a position opposite the locking plunger H6and held in this position until the plunger rod H2 is again pushed intoengagement with the chain 88. The abutment I05 will then again be inposition to receive a new stack of slices'S, and be adapted to belowered continually until it again reaches the bottom of the troughwhere the operation is repeated. Afterthe abutment I06, and of coursethe slide bearing I08, has reached the bottom of its travel in thetrough 90, the abutment and side bearing will be returned upwardly tothe top of the trough by manually raising the same. "The slice receivingtrough 90 has a low side I'IS (to the right, Fig. 11) so as to clear apart of the slide bearing at the point where the abutment I06 isattached thereto by the screws I01. A flat spacer member is fastened atthe top of the trough outside of the low side H9 and-the opposite sideof the trough 00, Fig. 11. Outside of this spacer is a guard plate I ofangle shape, Fig. 9. This angle shaped guard plate I20 is arranged atthe top of the trough 00 and has one leg I2 I- of each angle extendingparallel with the guide rodI09. The other leg I22 of the guard plate I20is at an angle with the leg I2II The leg I22 is spaced a short distancefrom the end of the trough sides as shown at I23, Figs. 8 and9.

of the link,

The trough 90 has a. trough bottom I24, and near the lower end of thetrough bottom there is a spacing block I25 of L form,Fig. 10. A falsebottom or tray I26 having upstanding end portions I21 rests loosely withits lower end on the spacing block I25. The tray I26 fits within thesides of the slice receiving trough, and this tray is provided at itsupper end with two lateral short pins II8, Fig. 9, which fit in thespace I23 and butt sideways almost against the members I2I of the guardplate I20. The tray I26 is so arranged within the trough 90 that it canbe easily removed and replaced. The member I22 prevents the operatorfrom pushing the tray I26 against the knife 2 I, Figs. 8 and 9.

The abutment I06 is provided with slots I28, Fig. 11, which pass overthe upstanding ends I21 of the tray I26. When the abutment I 06 hastraveled to the bottom of the trough 90, the first slice will be restingagainst the upstanding end I21, and the subsequent slices will bestacked continuously upwardly. After the tray has been filled withslices when the abutment is at the bottom of the trough, the entirestack can be removed from the trough by the removal of the tray I26.

The abutment I06 has a roller guide I29 upon which there is mounted aroller I30. The roller I30 is adapted to run on the upper surface of thetray I26 and on the downward leg of the block I25 when the abutment I06has passed the ends I21 of the tray I28. An arm I3I, Fig. 11, isfastened to the slide bearing I08 and carries a roller I32 which rollsalong the bottom of the trough 90, whereby the abutment I06 will becompletely guided on the slice trough.

Outside of the bracket 04 there is fastened a cradle I33 havingtriangular sides I34, Figs. 1, 8 and 9. A scrap tray I35 is slidinglyreceived in the cradle I33 and is supported on the bottom of the cradle.A scrap tray I36, Figs. 8 and 9, is ar-' ranged beneath the trough anddischarges into the scrap tray I35 so that any scraps which may fallthrough the trough 90 will be received in the tray I36, whereby thefloor where the machine is located will be maintained in a sanitarycondition. This scrap tray I36 has its lower end I31 resting on theadjusting rod I02, or on some other suitable support. The upper end I38of the tray I36 is removably supported by a pin I39 or other suitablesupport fixed to a part of the machine frame.

The slice receiving tray I28 has a short slice landing surface MI, Fig.9, which is deflected in a direction from the general direction of theslice trough 90, so that it is substantially perpendicular to thegeneral direction of the slice deflecting shield 22. During the slicingoperation, the thin edge or periphery of a slice will land on thesurface I4I and the broad or fiat side of the first slice will leanagainst the abutment I06, Fig. 8. The subsequent slices will restagainst the previously cut slices. The slices as they are being cut willgradually be pushed over the hump I II of the slice tray I26, Fig. 9,where they become readjusted gradually in accordance with the relationof the slice abutment I06 to the slice receiving tray surface I25.

The invention provides a slicing machine which is provided with changespeed mechanism so that the feeding speed of the machine can be changedto suit various conditions, depending upon the kind of substance to besliced and the speed at which it is to be sliced. The change speedmechanism can be shifted from high to low speed by the mere manipulationof a pivoted lever. The slicing machine is adapted also to receive thecut slices on a trough or conveyor which operates in timed relationshipwith the speed of the substance being fed. Means also are provided tohave the trough abutment or conveyor move at a speed equal to the speedof the feeding means The present improved slicing'machine is alsoprovided with new and improved means so as to cause each slice to standon end and rest one against another and supported by a movable abutment.The slices are arranged in a removable slice receiving tray so that whena piece of substance has been sliced, all the slices may be removed instacked relationship. The machine is durable and rigid in construction,is efiicient in operation, and is adapted to out various kinds ofsubstances at various speeds.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, means for operatingsaid slicing knife, means for feeding substance to said slicing knife tobe sliced thereby, a feed gearing for operating said feeding means, atrough mounted adjacent the knife for receiving slices as they are cut,an abutment slidably mounted in said trough for supporting said slices,a drive shaft driven by said feed gearing, a driven shaft driven by saiddrive shaft, means for selectively driving said driven shaft at variousspeeds from said drive shaft, and means operated by said driven shaftfor moving said abutment in said trough in timed relationship with themovement of the feed means.

2. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife operated bysaid motor, change speed mechanism driven by said motor, a feed screwselectively driven by said change speed mechanism, a drive shaft drivenby said feed screw, a sprocket shaft driven by said drive shaft, a pairof sprockets of different diameters mounted on said sprocket shaft,clutch means operated by the drive shaft for driving the sprockets, atrough located adjacent the slicing knife, an abutment in said trough toreceive slices consecutively as they are cut, and means operated fromsaid sprockets selectively to move said abutment at different speedsrelatively to said feed screw.

3. A slicing machine for bacon, chipped beef, and the like comprising aslicing knife, a trough located adjacent the slicing knife to receiveslices as they are cut, a slice deflector adjacent the knife and havinga portion thereof inclined to the cutting plane of the knife, saidtrough including a bottom portion adjacent the deflector extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said deflector from a second bottomportion inclined downwardly with respect to said first mentioned portionand said deflector and at a relatively steep angle with respect to thehorizontal, and a slice receiving abutment movably mounted in saidtrough.

4. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife driven by themotor, feed mechanism including feed gearing for advancing material tothe knife for slicing, transmission means drivingly connected with themotor for driving said feed gearing comprising a member driven by themotor and drivingly connected with said feed gearing, selectivelyoperable means to alter the driving ratio between the member and themotor for normal slicing adjustment within a predetermined range, andselectively operable means to change the driving ratio between themember and the feed gearing for abnormal adjustment to condition themachine for thin slicing.

5. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife driven by themotor, feed mechanism including a feed screw for advancing material tothe knife for slicing, transmission means drivingly connected with themotor for driving said feed screw comprising a transmission member,ratchet means connecting the motor with said member, means selectivelyoperable to change the driving ratio of said ratchetmeans for normalslice adjustment, and selectively operable means to change the drivingratio between the member and the feed screw for thin slicing adjustment.

6. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife driven by themotor, feed mechanism including a feed screw for advancing material tothe knife for slicing, transmission means drivingly connected with themotor for driving said feed screw comprising a member driven by themotor and drivingly connected with said feed screw, selectively operablemeans to alter the driving ratio between the member and the motor fornormal slicing adjustment Within a predetermined range, selectivelyoperable means to change the driving ratio between the member and thefeed screw for abnormal adjustment to condition the machine for thinslicing, a shiftable slice receiver, means driving the slice receiverfrom said feed screw, and means selectively operable to alter thedriving ratio between the feed screw and the slice receiver.

'7. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a feeding means driven by saidmotor, transmission means interposed between the feeding means and themotor for operating the feeding means, selectively operated shiftablemeans for adjusting the speed of said transmission. means withinpredetermined limits, and additional shiftable means included in saidtransmission means for changing the driving ratio of the transmissionmeans.

8. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife driven by themotor, feed means driven by the motor for feeding substance to theknife, means to operate the feed means, shiftabiy mounted rotary changespeed mechanism for changing the driving ratio of said feed means, asecond shiftable means for varying the speed of said feed means at eachdriving ratio, a slice receiver, means to operate the slice receiver,means driven by said second named means to operate the slice receivingmeans, and additional shiftably mounted means for selectivelycontrolling the speed at which said feed operating means operates saldreceiving means.

9. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife operated bysaid motor, change speed mechanism driven by said motor, a feed gearingselectively driven by said change speed mechanism, a drive shaft drivenby said feed gearing, a sprocket shaft driven by said drive shaft, meansoperated by the drive shaft for driving the sprocket shaft at variousspeeds, a trough located adjacent the slicing knife, an abutmentslidably mounted in said trough to receive slices consecutively as theyare out, and means including a chain and sprocket operated from saidsprocket shaft to move said abutment each time a slice is out a distanceat least equal to the thickness of the slice cut, and means includingfrom said chain when said abutment has traveled 'a predetermineddistance.

10. A slicing machine comprising a knife, feed means for feedingsubstance to the knife to be cut thereby, change speed means foroperating the feed means at difierent speeds, a trough adjacent theknife inclined downwardly fromthe knife, a slice tray removably mountedin the trough, an abutment slidably movable in said trough to supportslices in the tray, means to move the abutment from the feed means adistance at least equal to the thickness of a slice,

said sprocket for disconnecting said abutment abutment from the feedmeans a distance at least equal to the thickness of a slice, a memberupstanding from the bottom of said tray providing an end wall therefor,and cooperating means between said abutment and said upstanding memberproviding for passage of the abutment past said upstanding member of thetray.

12. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a feeding means driven bysaid-motor, transmission means interposed between the feeding means andthe motor for operating the feeding means, selectively operatedshiftable means for adjusting the speed of said transmission meanswithin predetermined limits, and additional shiftable means included insaid transmission means for changing the driving ratio of thetransmission means, said last named means including a feed shaft, adriven member loosely mounted on said feed shaft, 9. gear driven by thedriven member, and a member shiftable on said feed shaft to beselectively driven by the driven member or said gear for operating theshaft at different speeds.

WILLIAM MAHLER.

